Little Rock, Ark —Â Really cool news out of Arkansas where a .45 mile Via Ferrata route just opened at at Petit Jean State Park.
Famous for its incredible hiking, biking, climbing, rappelling, and bouldering, Petit Jean has long been a top destination for adventure seekers and the new Via Ferrata offering takes the park’s available activities to the next level. The Petit Jean Via Ferrata is the only Via Ferrata in a state park in the country and was installed in a collaborative effort between Arkansas State Parks and Frontier Climbing Company.
“The only via ferrata in a state park in the U.S., the Petit Jean Via Ferrata offers opportunities for a guided mountain adventure at Petit Jean State Park. A via ferrata is a protected climbing route where participants clip into a fixed steel cable and move along rungs, bridges, and ledges while anchored to the mountain landscape. The climbing route offers dramatic vertical exposures and sweeping views of the Cedar Creek Valley and is open only to guided reservations offered by our partners at Frontier Climbing Company.” –Arkansas State Parks
A via ferrata (Italian for iron path) is a protected mountain climbing route equipped with fixed steel cables, rungs, ladders, and bridges. Climbers wear a climbing harness and use and clip directly to the metal cable, allowing them to safely scale steep cliffs without traditional ropes or advanced climbing skills.
The new route traverses a north-facing cliff line below the Palisades Overlook and is more than 80 feet off the ground at its highest point. If you are interested in taking a tour you must be at least 12 years old and weigh between 88 and 265 pounds. Tours take around 3 hours and cost $150 per person. Book your tour HERE.
